This quarter's featured member, we're pleased to announce, is mandyandbingley!

How and when did you start knitting?

I started knitting in late February 2011 by watching youtube videos. I didn't have any knitting needles, but did have crochet hooks from a failed attempt at learning to crochet (it hurt my hands too much so I gave up), so I took two hooks and turned them around to use their handles as knitting needles until I got out to buy some real needles. Ever since then, I learn new stitches/techniques for almost every project I work on. I'm too impatient to do a lot of practice, I do best learning on a project. I look at scary looking patterns, and make myself dive right in.

What was your first knitting project?

My first project was a basic stockinette stitch scarf that I hoped I was making wide enough, lol.

Do you dabble in any other crafts? If so, which?

When I was a teenager I did a lot of counted cross stitch. I did lots of little projects, and only one large, 11x14-ish scene that I have hanging in my bedroom. Other than that, I tried my hand at making jewelry for a while. My biggest hobby/craft has been photography (if that counts as a craft?), I have been doing that for about 8 years or so. (www.flickr.com/gira)

What's your favorite FO?

I think because of the work I put into it, it's my cabled sweater. But, a close second is my Sprinkes hat ... I wish I could always wear this hat, lol

What's your favorite yarn?

My favorite yarn is almost anything by Malabrigo. It's just so nice to work with, and the colors are beautiful.

What's your favorite knitted FO made by someone else?

It would be, the NES Mario Bros blanket, because first, it's retro Mario, and it was an awesome amount of work put into it.

Who are your favorite designers?

For toys, Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi LandAnd for clothes items and accessories, it's a toss up between Ysolda Teague and Tori Gurbisz

What's your favorite non-knitted FO?

About a year ago or so I built myself night stands out of an old door from my brother's century house.. I had never built anything before but got it into my head to do it, and did, building drawers on the fly and everything (I was very proud of myself, lol). I redecorated my room around them, and also used an old door as my headboard. I'm glad my brother didn't want any of his old doors, lol.

I don't do a lot of planning with my crafts. I tend to just suddenly want to make something then get to work on it as soon as I can... before I lose interest (too ADD, lol). My main goal right now is to finish the cabled blanket I'm working on in time for winter (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mandyandbingley/c224-cascade-eco--quilt-and-cable-blanket), but am not pushing myself to work on it like I did with my first sweater. I burned myself out a little on that. I also want to tackle a pretty lace project, like a shawl in fingering weight yarn (which used to scare me), and make another sweater. But mostly, just to keep learning new things and to keep improving So far at least I'm making decent progress on the blanket, now just to find the perfect shawl or sweater pattern to make!